Hobart 140, Pros-Cons?

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I was wondering if any of you have, or know someone with, a Hobart 140, and if its a good machine. also what are the pros/cons of it?     Thanks.
Reply:Anybody?
Reply:I have a 140 and I love it. Depends on what you are doing with it? I use mine mainly for small crafts and tacking some larger jobs. I also have mine set up with 75/25 mix and .030 hardwire for indoor projects, I keep some flux-core just in case i have something outdoors. I have a larger stick machine for the big stuff.CIRCLE STAR "W" WELDING
Reply:Have you tried any 1/4" yet? If so how well does it hold?
Reply:Howie, please forgive me for asking instead, what are you wanting to build that you are trying to get away with doing on a cheap 120V MIG?It is a common problem that we run across, though I always hesitate to assume each question like yours is someone trying to build trailers and car frame repair with underpowered machines.The HH140 is one of the best machines in its class.  Unfortunately that class does not include 1/4" capability.  It will make two pieces of 1/4" steel stick together, if you are building a coffee table out of scraps.  It will not build a trailer, suspension brackets for your Jeep, or a bridge.I've welded 1/4" with an HH135, the HH140's immediate predecessor.  If you use the FCAW process and bevel the material, you will have your best joint.We can help better if we have an idea what 1/4" project you have in mind.What necessitates the interest in a 120V unit?  Budget?  Power?  Portability?
Reply:Well the largest factor is the power issue, i cannot get 220 into my garage. Portability doesnt matter realy, neather with price. What it would be used for is small "non-life dependent" jobs, like holding some smaller, low impact snowmobile pices together. And some of those are up to 1/4" thick. I would probally be using FCAW too.
Reply:Originally Posted by HowieWell the largest factor is the power issue, i cannot get 220 into my garage.
Reply:Its not that i dont want to, or dont know how, but i dont own the garage and dont want to do the changes to someones garage they might not want. Therefore i 110/120 would a whole lot better.
Reply:I can understand that.  Maybe they might want it to, if you ask them?  Especially if you're welding in there, it seems like it's the kind of garage where they'd agree more power would be handy.Did you check out the Millermatic Passport?
Reply:Howie:The Hobart 140 has a duty cycle of 20% @90A, which means that - unless you're using it for tack welds, on thin gauge - it probably won't serve you well. The Miller Passport gives you 20% @110A, better but quite expensive, in comparison. If you are planning to weld mild steel & stainless, a stick welder will give you a higher duty cycle at a given amperage, for the same cost as the wire welder. If dollars are the least of your concern, I'd have to agree with MAC702; that the Miller Passport is a handy-dandy little unit that will go anywhere that you can run an extension cord. Good luck.Mike
Reply:I checked out the millermatic passport, but for the price difference and what im going to be using it on, i think the hobart will be better, its less than 1/3 the cost and easyer to find locally.
Reply:So you've decided you don't need good welds on 1/4" from a 120V machine?  If so, than I agree with your choice.  The HH140 is an excellent machine.  They have good deals on them here:http://www.toolking.com/category.aspx?categoryID=323
Reply:yea, i realy dont need good welds on a 1/4". alot of what i'd need would be on less than that, and if i need a realy good 1/4" weld i'll have a friend do it with a larger welder. thanks for the advise!!!
Reply:I have a 140 and am very happy with it considering its my first machine. I have built my Samurai using it and have used it to weld most of the suspension parts that I have fabricated. It is OK to use on bigger stuff if you use flux core. I burn .030 wire most of the time. I have used .035 flux before but the .030 seems to produce a better weld using a higher speed feed setting. I have been looking at higher amperage machines (210 Miller) lately but until I up the service in my shop I will have to stick to my 140. Its a good machine for lite duty work.Zuwharrie.comFlatRiverOffRoad.comMy PicturesHobart 140 MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by MAC702 I don't leave home without it.